Ambulance Cost

How Much Does an Ambulance Cost?

Ambulance service typically is covered by health insurance when medically necessary. For example, BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama[1] offers coverage for medically necessary ambulance transport, to the nearest facility that can treat the patient, on many policies. For patients with health insurance, out-of-pocket costs for ambulance service typically consist of a copay of $15 to $100 or more or coinsurance of 10% to 50%. Some ambulance service providers will "balance bill" -- bill the patient for the remainder of the bill above what the insurance company pays, if they don't have a contract with that insurance company; some states have outlawed this practice. According to Woodburn Ambulance Service in Woodburn, OR, their patients with commercial insurance pay an average of $432 out of pocket.

For patients without health insurance, ambulance service cost typically depends on location, whether the trip is for an emergency or scheduled transport, how many miles the patient travels and whether basic life support or advanced life support is needed. The cost can be nothing out-of-pocket in cities where services are covered by taxes, but usually ranges from less than $400 to $1,200 or more plus mileage. For example, in Lima, OH, taxes pay for any ambulance services not covered by insurance, so residents do not receive a bill. The city of LeMars, IA, charges $375 for non-emergency basic life support service up to $600 for emergency service with advanced life support. The city of Urbana, OH, charges $650. The city of Nichols Hills, OK[2] , offers a membership plan for $2.50 per month for ambulance rides at no out-of-pocket cost, but non-members pay $1,100 plus $9 per mile for ambulance service. Woodburn Ambulance Service in Woodburn, OR, offers a membership plan, but non-members pay $1,220 plus $20 per mile per trip.

In an emergency, the ambulance provider that services the location typically will respond immediately to a call. The dispatcher will determine if only emergency medical technicians are needed, for basic life support, or if paramedics are needed, for advanced life support.

The ambulance crew will assess the patient's medical condition and check vital signs such as pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate, and will determine if transport to a nearby hospital emergency room is needed. If so, the crew will provide needed care during the ambulance ride. Basic life support care, typically for non-life-threatening emergencies, includes minor treatment, continued monitoring, and possibly administration of oxygen. Advanced life support care, for life-threatening emergencies, also can include CPR, administration of medication, breathing tube insertion and other needed treatments.

Additional costs:

Medical supplies -- for example, sterile gloves, needles, IV supplies, catheters, and saline -- used during the trip can add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to the final bill. For example, providers in Los Angeles County[3] can charge $24.75 for an oxygen mask, as well as for bandages, dressings ice packs; they can charge $45.25 for a burn kit or obstetrical kit; and can charge $80.25 for an infusion pump or pulse oximeter.

If a critical care nurse or respiratory therapist is required during an ambulance ride, it can add hundreds of dollars to the cost.

Discounts:

Some providers will negotiate a discount of up to 20% or more for uninsured patients who pay cash or pay within a certain timeframe. For example, Lincoln County Ambulance Service[4] in Kansas offers a 20% discount for payment within 30 days and a 10% discount to uninsured patients. And Woodburn Ambulance Service in Oregon offers a 10% discount for payment made within 30 days of service.

Shopping for an ambulance:

The American College of Emergency Physicians Foundation[5] offers a guide to when to call an ambulance in an emergency. In a 9-1-1 emergency, the ambulance provider that services that location will respond; in some locations, there is more than one provider and it might be possible to request a certain provider.

For a scheduled transport, a hospital or physician should be able to provide a referral for an ambulance service. Or, the American Ambulance Association[6] offers a provider directory by state and city.

Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.

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I live in the city and pay taxes. I was transported a very short distance. It took 3 months for the bill to be sent. I was charged $22 of my major medical, 80% of the eligible charge, and the overage Blue Cross Blue Shield would not cover. The mileage was billed at $12.00 a mile, rounded to 4 miles.

2 mile ride after a minor accident at school Wife is in medical field and she said no need for ambulance as it is a minor wound but somehow convinced her and took my kid in the ambulance to the hospital

I was in a motorcycle wreck and had rib fractures and skin off my leg down to the bone , but never lost consciousness and told them I wanted to go to the hospital that was 20 miles down the road as I had doctors there I knew . they knocked me out with meds against my will and I woke up in a hospital in downtown Atlanta, and they were horrible and did nothing for me and sent me home .

Transfer from Henry Ford West Bloomfield to Henry Ford Detroit. No lights/Siren. Insurance paid $795.20, remaining balance of $5,924.80. CPT code A0434: SCT Base Rate 2-Emergency = charged $5,500.00 I have copies of other billing statements from Superior with the same CPT code billed at $960.00. I honestly feel violated by this charge and attempt to steal my hard earned money. I drove myself to the hospital and had no input on being transferred or the method of transportation.

My wife had a brain aneurysm on 3/25/16 the Dr from Scott&White (who is also our insurance company) called a air ambulance to take her to the S&W in Temple because I was told time was most important. But what they didn't bother to find out is that she was going to have to wait 8 hours at the hospital in Temple before she could be operated on. No PHI is billing me $33,390 for a 28 mile trip. I do think that is a little much!

In August of 2014, my husband need to be transported to the helicopter pad at the hospital and we received a bill for $4,550 and when we questioned why so much no one could provide a valid answer. The helicopter pad is less than .25 miles from the ER. The company gave us 3 different answers on why it was so expensive. My husband was alert and he stated they just put him on a cot and transferred him, he was stable.

Drank too much on New Years Eve. Taken to hospital half a mile away- unconscious so I had no opportunity to give consent. I was grateful in the beginning and willing to pay, but $1275 is too much for a short ride. I was given no treatment in ambulance or in hospital. I received no info about or from the ambulance until a month later. And they only want to give me one month to pay. They could at least break down the cost on the bill or give information on payment options. This just comes off cold and unreasonable.

my insurance paid 1,392.42 then next transferred to Hartford, ct , we paid $100.00 plus more insurance paid 514.54. total 614.54. we learned that collection agency told us we must pay 827.00 November 10, 2016. We called them but they were verbal abusive and refused to accept proof of our insurance claims. Reason that we are hearing impairment. we refused to pay but we paid full 114.00on April 11, 2015. they did not tell us reason detail why.

I got out of my car to check on a tire, I thought was going flat from the noise I heard, was a large chunk of ice thumping against the tire and fenderwell, I knocked it loose from the fenderwell with my hammer from the trunk, and as I walked back around the car to place the hammer back in the trunk I caught the toe of my boot in a hole in the ice, and fell my body twisting to the right, and breaking both right lower leg bones in the process, the tibia in three places, and the fibula in one place. Excruciating pain, I could barely move, I tried to move back from the roadway I was lying in out beyond the car, but could only hunch up against the bumper the best I was able. I then called 911, and was taken to the hospital ER after about 10 minutes. The medic crew were awesome, the best I could have asked for, but then as I don't have insurance, haven't been at my job long enough, and my last insurance had dropped me, (Oregon Health plan), I received a bill for over $12,000.

I often travel in the Caribbean and usually I purchased travel insurance to cover each trip. I came to realize that in the event of a medical emergency I must first pay the bill then apply for reimbursement. Most countries don't accept checks and credit cards may not be accessible. Hence, the likelihood of being stranded in a foreign land was enormous. Someone recommended UBEHL that offers an ambulance membership subscription, for ground or air ambulance services, which covers my family and me 24/7 and 365 days a year locally and worldwide. Zero deductibles, no co-pays, no Out-of-Pocket costs. The protection only costs $1 per day. At 57 years old, I have never used the services of an ambulance, but I am self-employed and cannot afford to have unexpected catastrophic expenses. Therefore, I am subscribed to this peace of mind that I carry with me everywhere I go.

My husband was having trouble breathing because of a bad cold/virus. He called 911 and was transported to the Ferry County Memorial Hospital,Republic, Wa. The EMT checked his vitals and transported him to the hospital.That's it. Hospital ran some tests, gave him an IV for dehydration -glucose/Sodium, and some horse-sized pills (that he could not swallow!) He was then released. He called Police to see if he could get a ride home, but they said no, they were too busy. There is NO taxi He walked 1/2 mile into town and a kind woman at the local grocery store drove him home. Bill is $4,917.00 with a "payment and adjustment " of $986.50 Emergency Medical Response- $4,749Insurance payment $914.27Republic Medical Center $168.00 (NO insurance payment) Adjustment of $72.23CURRENT patient Responsibility - $3,930.50UNINSURED patients get 15% off bill if paid in full within 30 days. INSURED patients only get 5% reduction. We pay $326 a yr in taxes for EMS and Hospital District.

Humana paid $0 due to out-of-network.Prices almost double from those established in adjoining counties of metro Atlanta.Rural Metro gave oxygen without asking nor medically necessary. Same true with placing a saline solution port. Oxygen and port installed within only a few blocks of hospital.

I had a heart attack in Carlsbad, NM. My cardiologist in Lubbock, TX knew it was a stent malfunction from earlier in the year. He ordered me flown to Lubbock, 152 miles as the crow flies. Get a bill for $60,000 dollars. $394.00 dollars a mile. I was in the air Force. I know that is a ridiculous amount to pay. I was asked maybe 3 times during the flight, how ya doing. The rest of the time, the crew was on laptops and smart phones texting. Told them I had spinal injuries and need a pillow. An hour of the most excruciating back pain, never mind the chest compressions from heart attack. We are a 1 horse town and you're screwed if you need service and don't have insurance. $400.00 a mile for a helicopter? Give me a break! The 2 EST's could have lost 250 lbs. between them and not missed it. Maybe the fuel consumption was high!

Was taken by ambulance to hospital 3 miles from home. That hospital called ambulance to transport me to another hospital within 30 minutes of arriving. Ambulance service charged for 2 callouts. They are not in the preferred provider network for my BCBS. I will have to pay the whole amount out of pocket.

For most, has this is rediculous pricing. Most met/meds make less than a McDonalds employee. You tip the pizza guy to bring it to your door, but carry 300 pound grandma down three flights of stairs, "that's your job". Do you realize, at least at our service, it takes $280.00 just to pull out of the station. Our insurance, per rig, is more per day than most people pay for one month. There are only three ambulance insurance companies in the USA. Then, when it's all done and said, medi-care refuses the trip. I can refuse to serve you in a restaraunt, but due to cobra, I can't refuse you the service. Now, add the fact of the frequent flier, 911 abusers we are lucky to be recovering .38 cents on the dollar. Top this off with the cost of the support staff, who answered the phone, who dispatched them, who maintained that rig? Starting to get the picture?

Total was 957.41. Cigna paid a good chunk of it. To keep it short. I dont do drugs, smoke or drink. Decide to take etizolam . Long story short I had a Grand Mal seizure and then stopped breathing as a result of withdraws. Happend in the middle of my parents taking me out to eat in the car. When I awoke the EMT lady said they had stuck oxygen tubes in my lungs through my nose and had me hooked up to saline and electrolytes, and a vitals monitor. I guess it was well worth the price considering I could of needed up retarded had I had brain damage. Considering the van cost hundrerds of thousands if not millions, the poor hard working trained emt have to get paid, all the equipment on the van, the people radioing the emt's in the van at the hospital. I say its well worth 1000.000 dollars. I personal dont believe I deserved an ambulance considering theres people out there with real illnesses. But I didn't make the call. Oh yea I wet my self too so add in cleaning services.

I found my son who was taking a shower laying in the wet tub/shower unconscious. I called for an ambulance as there was no way I could get him out myself. When the ambulance arrived he awoke. He was vomiting. He was lifted out and transported to the hospital. Now BlueCross BlueShied tells me the bill is all mine.

I was in emergency room of St Luke's hospital, after check and exam, doctor decide to admit me into hospital. The main building is half a mile away from the emergency room, I fully capable of walk myself or my wife can give me drive, just around the corner. but they insist that I ride on an ambulance they called in, an old, cranky van for half mile ride... after that I got the bill of 1710!! I have insurance from BB, they they paid 1088, which I think is reasonable, but I still have to pay 622! The most expensive 1 minute ride in my life! I called to dispute the bill, they basically said that is the bill, that is what you have pay, period!!!

I had to be transported from the Ballard ER to the Edmonds ICU. I was barely conscious at the time and don't remember being given a menu of ambulance companies and prices to choose from. How much should an ambulance ride cost? Can they charge whatever they want? We are not consumers or rational economic actors with knowledge of prices. We are semi-conscious sick people being put in ambulances by medical staff. My insurance company (Ambetter) seems to think the service is only worth $734.43. Unfortunately since American Medical Response is out-of-network, they still want the other $1,584.28. So who is running the scam here? Is it American Medical Response or is it Ambetter?

My Dad was at a nursing home without a hip after surgery & had a follow up DR's appointment down the street. He was in horrible pain, in traction, & could not sit up. The nursing home ordered gurney transport. I didn't ask how much because prior gurney transport cost $600.00 round trip & it was more miles. When I received the bill I was shocked almost 3+ times more than the prior transport. They sent 3 people who pretty much just moved my Dad in & out of the office & were on the computer the rest of the time. I will always ask the amount in the future. Didn't realize it would very so much. Highway robbery in IL.

My dad was in respiratory distress. The ambulance arrived and took their time assessing him. They did not have the appropriate mask to use and transported him one mile to the nearest hospital. After receiving this bill, I called the local police department....they said North Shore is the first responder and the Rockville Centre fire department is the second responder. The taxes in this county are out of this world. Really??? I should have brought him myself. And there was no mention of the charge to take a mile ride.

My wife went to emergency in Sutter Health Summit Oakland, They found out that she got stroke, The hospital called Pro-Transport Ambulance to take her to Sutter Health Alta Bates Stroke Center in Berkeley, California, about 5 miles away, and it took about 15 minutes. the bill was almost $9,000.00. My insurance said the ambulance company not in the network,therefore they paid 50% only> Now I had a bill for $4,400.00. Is there anything I can do on this ripped off case?

The ambulance took my husband from a rehab facility to hospital emergency room which was half mile away.We were charged $1068. We were to be responsible for the copay which is 220. Now since our insurance company had a contract with them they didn't pay the rest since it was disallowed. Now they are trying to collect from us. Our insurance said that they are not allowed to bill us for more than our copay. Got reported to a collection agency and ended up paying the bill. Our insurance is filing a grievance. Hope to get a refund with this mess is resolved.

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

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